Volume 67 (2017) Issue: 2017 No#4

The effect of moderate heat on rat pituitary ACTH cells: histomorphometric, immunofluorescent and hormonal study

Author(s): Popovska-Perčinić Florina, Jarić Ivana, Pendovski Lazo, Ristić Nataša, Trifunović Svetlana, Milošević Verica, Ajdžanović Vladimir

Keywords:moderate heat, ACTH cells, histomorphometry, immunofluorescence, rat

In areas with moderate continental climate, increased average ambient temperature during the summer represents a stressogenic factor that affects the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical axis in mammals. Therefore, we wanted to examine the effects of 4 days of constant exposure to moderately elevated ambient temperature (35 ± 1oC) on the histomorphometric and immunofluorescent characteristics, as well as on the hormonal secretion of pituitary corticotropes (ACTH) cells in adult male rats. In comparison with the controls kept at 20 ± 2oC, a significant increase (p<0.05) of the absolute and relative pituitary weight (23.1% and 36.1%, respectively) was registered after exposure to heat. The localization, as well as the shape of the ACTH cells in the heat exposed group was not significantly altered, but their immunopositivity was weaker. After 4 days of heat exposure, a weaker signal confirmed the relative fluorescence intensity of the ACTH cells (15.3%, p<0.05). In heat exposed rats, an increase of the cellular and nuclear volumes of immunolabelled ACTH cells and decrease of their volume density (6.9%, 14.3% and 20.0%, respectively; p<0.05) was registered. Observed histomorphometric and immunofluorescent features of the pituitary ACTH cells were in accordance with the increased (p<0.05) value of plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) by 23.7% compared to the control rats. It can be concluded that the 4-day exposure to moderately elevated ambient temperature intensifies pituitary ACTH secretion in adult male rats.